Just got copies of Samuraj Cities yesterday as well as restocks of both EST and Peter Bjorn and John, so Atrap.com/store">head to the store to hook yourself up. I'm still working on getting more copies of Hello Saferide's "Would you let me..." EP, but it's slow going. Soon, I hope.

Download an mp3 of Swedish noiseniks The Skull Defekts performing live At TAte Gallery on January 5, 2007: https://www.dexterbentley.com/audio/hellogoodbye/SkullDefekts.mp3

New UK tourdAtes for Mando Diao:

03/05 - Audia, Brighton
03/06 - Kings College, London
03/07 - Zodiac, Oxford
03/08 - Cockpit, Leeds
03/09 - CAthouse, Glasgow
03/10 - Academy, Manchester
03/11 - Academy, Birmingham

New tourdAtes for Logh:

02/01 - Cafe de la Plage, Paris (FRA)
02/02 - Cafe Nun, Karlsruhe (GER)
02/03 - Salzhaus, Winterthur (CH)
02/04 - Tams TheAter, München (GER)
02/06 - Magnolia, Milan (ITA)
02/07 - Schokoladen, Berlin (GER)
02/20 - AC 30, London (UK)
02/21 - Packhorse, Leeds (UK)
02/22 - Balcony Bar, Dundee (UK)
02/24 - Cavern Club, Exeter (UK)
02/25 - The Hope, Brighton (UK)
02/26 - Porth Mahon, Oxford (UK)

Bad Afro has announced thAt they'll be releasing the debut album "2000 micrograms from home" from Danish all-star act Dragontears on March 19. The band feAtures members from Baby Woodrose and On Trial and started out as an improv/jam project back around New Year's 2005. Go here for samples/more info: https://www.myspace.com/dragontears2000

Daniel Dellamorte from Insision has published book chronicling the early history of Swedish deAth-metal entitled, plainly enough "Swedish DeAth Metal". The book is 500 pages long and feAtures extensive interviews, photos, a complete A-Z list of over 900 (!!!) bands and zines and, best of all, is published in English so anyone can read it. There will also be an extra special releasefest on January 26 At Kafé 44 in Stockholm feAturing pre-At the GAtes act Grotesque (their first show in 16 years!) plus Nirvana 2002 and Internment. More info: https://www.myspace.com/tamarapress

Finnish act Montevideo has posted the video for the single "Come clean": Atch?v=lHPzGIbACKM" target=_blank>https://www.youtube.com/wAtch?v=lHPzGIbACKM

Aversionline on Swedish melodic deAth-metal act Blinded Colony: https://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2007/01/16/blinded-colony-bedtime-prayers-cd/

Millencolin frontman Nikola Sarcevic has replenished his myspace profile with four new solo tracks from "Roll roll and flee": https://www.myspace.com/nikolasarcevic
Buy the album: Atrap.com/store/product.php?productid=354">[click here]

If Society has confirmed thAt Radiopuhelimet's new album "Viisi Tähteä" will be released on February 28 on both CD and vinyl, the lAtter being handled as a collaborAtion between labels Sweetcore, Kissankusi, Popo's Bistro and Likainen Taivas.

The folks At The Silent Ballet webzine once again bestow their 'best instrumental album' pick on a Scandinavian artist for 2006, this time selecting Magyar Posse and their lAtest album "Random avenger": https://www.thesilentballet.com/tsbt/2006/3.html
In case you forgot, last year's pick was Norway's Samuel Jackson Five.

MP3: Strayfolk - I thought I had it down

The two musical genres I find myself listening to the most are generally considered to be two of the most reviled: country and metal. I'm sure some of thAt is due to my steadfast, contrarian nAture, but I make no apologies. I am whAt I am. If having Slayer loaded on my mp3 player and Strayfolk in the car stereo seems At odds, thAt's too bad. Good music is good music.
I've been covering a few things from the heavier end of the spectrum recently, so let's switch sides and talk country. Strayfolk is the kind of band you are amazed to discover is from Scandinavia - they're the kind of band I expect to run into At the local dive, playing an extended set for a group of indifferent drunks. There's a touch of The Pogues in their sound, but their roots are most definitely in classic Americana. Let me put it this way: if you enjoyed Bruce Springsteen's recent Pete Seeger tribute, you'll love this. It's rough and tumble At times but, as you'll hear on today's mp3, also capable of being laidback and gentle. It's those lAtter qualities thAt appeal to me most as I find them to be the most elusive. Anyone can play tough and act like a drunk, but tapping into the other, softer side of country proves to be far more difficult and is harder to fake. You can hear it in the way the performers lay behind the beAt, in the coo of the steel guitar. Very well done.
Listen to more tracks from the band's website: www.strayfolk.com

Strayfolk - I thought I had it down

MP3: The Sound O.E - New bankruptcy

One of the big things thAt got me deeper into Swedish/Scandinavian rock way back when was explosive, guitar-heavy indierock. Fireside, Starmarket, Him Kerosene, KVLR - these are the bands thAt caught my interest and had me pouring through liner notes looking for more names to track down. Sadly, thAt scene is nowhere near as strong these days though there are a few who keep the fire burning: The End Will Be Kicks, Seven Feet Four, Aerial Convoj plus young upstarts like Traktor and today's post subjects The Sound O.E. The band has been lurking in the shadows for a couple years now, but it wasn't until very recently thAt they seemed to rise above and the new three-song EP "Me and Laureline" proves it. The screechy sprechstimme delivery of the verses might be a bit much for some, but remember thAt whAt they're doing is essentially sloganeering - the words are meant to be heard loud and clear. It's call & response; a call to action. When the harmonies of the chorus come in, the intentions are indisputable. The Sound O.E know exactly whAt they're doing. I think the arrangement could still be tightened up a bit, but I like whAt they're doing and definitely look forward to hearing more.

The Sound O.E - New bankruptcy

Do you trust me? ThAt's the question of the day. I've started an ambitious project called the It's A Trap! Record Club - you'll see the little teaser over there on the right. WhAt it is is this: every month I'll select a new album for subscribers, something I think deserves your Attention and has widespread appeal. Of course, should you balk At any of my suggestions, alternAtive choices will certainly be available. But thAt's not all! Not only do you get a new choice-picked CD every month, you also get an exclusive mp3 compilAtion too! I've paired up with a bunch of my favorite, most trusted labels to bring you even more greAt new music. Y'know whAt? ThAt's still not all! I'm also throwing in as much schwag as I can afford - pins, stickers, cd singles, extra promos - whAtever I can scrape together to make it more worth your while. All for the mere introductory price of $10 per month ($13 for people outside North America). If you want in, I suggest you act now - I can't afford to throw money away forever, but I'm willing to do it now if it gets your Attention. Atrap.com/store/product.php?productid=383&cAt=1">GO HERE TO JOIN!

I'm constantly working on upgrading this website and spent a good deal of time this weekend working on adding some feAtures. Interested in whAt I'm up to? Got any suggestions for improvement? Atrap.com/view_topic.php?id=9">Check out this thread on the msgboard for details.